According to a report by Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Chelsea midfielder Morgan Rogers has expressed his amazement at playing against Lionel Messi, admitting that he could hardly believe what the Argentine superstar was doing at 39 years old.

Rogers made the comments while discussing his experience of facing Messi during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina.

The England international revealed that although Cristiano Ronaldo remains his personal favourite footballer, playing against Messi gave him a different appreciation of the Argentine's extraordinary ability.

Rogers explained that he was particularly impressed by Messi's performance despite his age. He admitted that he could not imagine how difficult the Argentine would have been to defend against during the peak of his career.

The midfielder also suggested that Messi's influence during the match made it extremely difficult for England's players to contain him. His comments highlighted the respect he developed for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner after experiencing his quality on the pitch.

The World Cup semi-final was a memorable encounter, with Argentina securing a 2-1 victory over England after coming from behind. England initially took the lead, but Argentina responded through Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, with Messi providing the decisive assists for both goals.

For Rogers, the experience was an opportunity to face one of football's greatest players rather than simply watch him from television.

His remarks have attracted attention among football supporters, particularly because he openly maintained his preference for Ronaldo while acknowledging Messi's remarkable ability.

The discussion has once again brought the long-running Ronaldo and Messi debate into the spotlight. Both players have enjoyed extraordinary careers, collecting major individual awards and trophies while influencing generations of football fans.

Rogers' experience demonstrates the impression Messi continues to make on fellow professionals, even at 39 years old.